French President Francois Hollande has called for a global coalition to eradicate the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group following the deadly attacks in Paris. The appeal comes as French fighter jets continue raids aimed at ISIL targets in its stronghold of Raqqa in Syria. A spokesperson for France’s military command told Reuters news agency the warplanes struck a command centre and a recruitment centre for fighters in Raqqa on Tuesday.
Speaking to members of the French parliament at the Palace of Versailles on Monday evening, Hollande also said he wanted to extend the state of emergency for three months and would meet US President Barack Obama and Russia’s Vladimir Putin to “unite our forces to achieve a result that has taken too long”. Beginning his speech with the words “France is at war,” Hollande declared: “We will defeat terrorism.”
ISIL claimed responsibility via statements and videos for Friday’s attacks that killed at least 129 people and wounded hundreds more in the French capital. The group gave warning in a video on Monday that any country hitting it would suffer the same fate as Paris, promising specifically to target Washington DC.
Politicians from all French political parties responded to Hollande’s words with a standing ovation and by singing the national anthem. In a show of patriotic defiance, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was reopened and lit up in the colours of the French flag.
